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There’s Construction Ahead

About ten days ago, I developed a dry cough that justwouldn’t go away. I would startcoughing until I couldn’t breath. At some points I would cough so much and so hard that I would nearlypass out from the lack of oxygen. I’m 6’4” and weigh 350 lbs. If I go down, they’ll need a team to pick me up again.

At any rate, I finally humbled myself and went to thedoctor, which loosely translated means my wife got tired of hearing me coughand set up an appointment for me.

After a series of tests including a chest x-ray, it turnsout I have walking pneumonia.

There aren’t any other symptoms going on except the coughand shortness of breath, but it’s pneumonia. There was no way anyone could tell what it was, including mywife who is a nurse, until someone took a picture of what was going on insideof me. Crazy.

That’s kind of true of our Christian walk too. Sometimes we can have something goingwrong in our lives with just no explanation that we can see, but it takes God’sHoly Spirit to reveal the issue inside of us. The Bible is full of verses that relate to this. Here are some examples:

Men maybe your prayers aren’t being answered; here’s apossible cause: You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in anunderstanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show herhonor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not behindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

Maybe life in general isn’t going well for you; here’s apossible cause: Honor your Father and Mother, which is the first commandmentwith a promise, so that it may be well with you, and that you may live longupon the Earth. (Ephesians 6:2-3)

Maybe it seems that everything you do blows up in your faceeven though you know you should be able to do it; here’s a possible cause: Godopposes the proud and gives grace to the humble . . . humble yourselves in thepresence of the Lord and He will exalt you. (James 4:6-10)

Maybe it seems like you are always running out of money;here’s a possible cause: And he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse withholes. Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:6-7) Hewho is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10)

This list could go on and on. Everyday our prayer ought to be as David’s, “Search me, OGod, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if therebe any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm139:23-24) Until we see Him face-to-face and become like Him, He will continueto work on us by any means necessary to prepare us for that day.

One thing we can be sure of in this life: there’sconstruction ahead.

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About Post Author

Stephen Porter is currently an English instructor with the University of Phoenix. He has worked on staff with the ministry group Pulse Outreach as a grant writer, editor, and events coordinator. He is also active in his home church in evangelism, outreach, and discipleship classes. Most of all, Stephen Porter is a follower of Jesus Christ. A former atheist, Stephen turned to God after he lost everything in pursuit of “The American Dream,” and he called out for God to show Himself. Much to his surprise, God spoke audibly to him. He said, “Give up everything you love and follow Me.” Stephen sold everything he had and gave it all away for the sake of Christ to the point of being homeless for three months. God restored and reconciled with him, and now Stephen is happily married with one son living in Brownsville, TX, serving the only One worthy of glory, forever and ever. Amen.